Horses: Sunday Stakes Showcase Delivers Four Distinct Winners at Sunland Park

Sunland Park Racetrack delivered a full afternoon of stakes racing Sunday, Jan. 18, with four featured races highlighting different divisions and distances on a nine-race card. From emerging 3-year-olds to seasoned older runners, the day’s stakes results reflected both depth and variety as the winter meet continues to build toward its marquee events.

The $100,000 Riley Allison Derby provided the afternoon’s longest test, sending a field of 3-year-olds one mile around the Sunland Park oval. Daneyko emerged best, covering the distance in 1:37.53 under jockey Alfredo J. Juarez. Trained by Edward J. Kereluk for owner Roys Mansur, Daneyko finished strongly to secure the victory, with Way Beyond and Forty Seven completing the top three. The Riley Allison Derby has long served as a proving ground for developing runners, and Sunday’s result added another name to its history.

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Speed returned to the spotlight in the $75,000 Ft. Bliss Stakes, where older sprinters lined up for six furlongs. Augusta Melody proved sharp throughout, stopping the clock in 1:08.76. Trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Orlando Mojica, Augusta Melody prevailed over Neiman and Ryvit, continuing a day in which decisive finishes defined the stakes races.

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The afternoon’s fillies and mares took center stage in the $65,000 Bold Ego Stakes, contested at 5½ furlongs. Aye Candy, trained by Todd W. Fincher for Peacock Family Racing Stables, LLC, delivered a winning effort in 1:02.78 with Christian Ramos aboard. Alexandra Elaine finished second, followed by Lookinforbargains, in a race that underscored the depth of the older female division.

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Earlier on the card, the $65,000 Borderplex Stakes saw Coffee Connection claim victory at 6½ furlongs. With Olaf Hernandez in the saddle, Coffee Connection held off Not A Lady and In The Aggregate to secure the win for owners Brad King, Jim Cone, R. Lee Lewis, and G. Randy Andrews. Trained by Todd W. Fincher, the performance rounded out a stakes slate that showcased multiple barns and riding styles.

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Together, the four stakes races formed a compact but varied Sunday showcase at Sunland Park, offering a snapshot of the meet’s competitive range as the calendar turns toward the heart of stakes season.